Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes will line up against Liverpool despite a minor car crash on the eve of the game. Getty

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Football

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes fit to face Liverpool despite car crash

Portuguese midfielder was involved in accident on way to training

The National

April 18, 2022

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Bruno Fernandes will be fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Liverpool despite being involved in a car crash on Monday.

No one involved is understood to have sustained serious injuries and Fernandes took part in training with the rest of the United squad on the eve of the game at Anfield.

"Obviously the accident happened on the way to Carrington, but as far as I know nobody was injured," United manager Ralf Rangnick said.

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"He trained with the team and he was ok. That's why I think he will also be ok for tomorrow."

Both sides are in desperate need of the points for different reasons.

Liverpool can go top with victory over their old rivals, who they thrashed 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

United needed a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to see off bottom-of-the-table Norwich 3-2 on Saturday, but defeats for Arsenal and Tottenham have given Rangnick's side new life in the fight for a place in the top four and next season's Champions League.

"It's only about our situation and after last weekend's results we are still in the race for the top four," added Rangnick. "In order to stay in that race, we have to win almost every game, starting with tomorrow.

“It’s up to us. We definitely will travel there tomorrow and try to get the three points. This is what it’s all about.

“It’s not about the situation they’re in, it’s about our own situation."

However, Rangnick was scathing in his assessment of his own side's performance out of possession against Norwich at the weekend.

Manchester United v Norwich ratings

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty
Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty

"We must be at our very best defensively but still have an approach to the game where we can be a threat," said the German.

"We still know that if we raise our level, if we play a top performance, we have a chance to get three points and this will be our ambition and our goal for tomorrow."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was influenced by Rangnick's methods early in his coaching career, but Klopp said the pair's relationship has been "on hold" since Rangnick arrived in England.

"We didn't have contact since he is in England, since he is at United. I think that's just a mutual respect - I respect his job, he respects my job," said Klopp.

Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to inflict more misery on United and take another step towards a potential quadruple of trophies.

Klopp's side have already won the League Cup, will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next month and take on Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals.

"Two of the biggest clubs in the world for sure face each other. Massive history around, big fights in the past, big fights since I'm here," added Klopp.

"This time it's an incredibly important game again for both teams. That says it all."

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Types of policy

Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.

Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.

Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.

Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.

Anna and the Apocalypse

Director: John McPhail

Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton

Three stars

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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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INFO

Everton 0

Arsenal 0

Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)

GROUP RESULTS

Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs

Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

Premier League results

Saturday

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1

Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0

Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3

Manchester United 3 Southampton 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0

West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0

Sunday

Watford 2 Leicester City 1

Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Everton 0 Liverpool 0

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

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Updated: April 18, 2022, 2:22 PM`
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